Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1887-01-28
The "RefOrmers.o

The "Reformers."
We publish Mr.. Turner'S card els ,where
in which he intimates that he was present
at the reform" meeting not as spectator
but as sympathizing participant. In
this respect he is unlike most of the "host
Of good Democrats from all sections of the
State" whom he met there, who like him
self were drawn to Baltimore to attend the
farmers convention for most of these have
been at some pains to say that they mere
" attended this prearranged side show as
spectators. When the organization of the
"Farmers Convention" was put in opera
ton two years ago, the TINES earnestly
CO opera ed in the movement, thinking, as
all honest farmers thought at the time
that it was set on foot with sincere pur-
pose of promoting agriculture and advanc
ing the interests Of the farmer. The ute
failure of the previous conventions to &C.
complish anything in that direction raised
doubts of its efficiency in that respect :;
and now, at the last meeting, the political
wolf, who had thus assumed the innocent
garb of the sheep to draw the farmers to
him, throws off his mask AMI appears in
his true colors' 1t was political move
ment of the "outs" agains. the sins" after
all.
Mr.. Turner thinks that when "such
Democrats as Gov. Hamilton and JAS. U.
Dennis tell US of abuses and needed re
forms in the party one intuitirely feels that
there might be something in it" SO We
all thought once. When the Governor
first published his grave and sweeping
charges, many Democrats were inclined TO
think that there might be and probably teas
much truth in them and this paper, in its
humble way, was among the foremost in
asking that the Governor should have
full and fair hearing at the hands of the
Legislature and in urging him to make
good his grave charges of official misfeas-
ance by indictment and criminal prosecu-
ton in the courts. The Legislature did
extend him full and patient hearing and
the best elements OF the Democracy of the
State turned their attention earnestly up
on the Governor and carefully examined
the charges he made. That there were
political irregularities in Baltimore city
was conceded, and q new and rigid regis
tration law was promptly adopted, in &C
cordance with the Governors views. But
bis friends we're chagrined when they
found that the Governor and his advisers
did not dare to 60 into the courts to make
good their charges of official misfeas,nce' )
and in fact that the Governor did not cor
rec,ly understand the true status OF the
sinking funds upon which he based his
most sweeping charges.
Since that time, now nearly seven years
ago, there have been few intelligent DEM
ocrsts in the State who are willing to fol-
low the Governor intuiticely, or blindly,
and accept what be says as correct because
he says it. On the other hand, his politi.
cal accusations are now accepted at large
discount. Hence it is that the recent sgi
tation at Baltimore has fallen so fatty and
has scarcely created Ripe on the serene
surface of the present harmonious politics
Of the State. During the seven years that
have intsrvened since the Governor first
commenced his unnecessary agitation, the
cfSdit of the State has been maintained
at the highest standard in the financial
markets of the couu'ry aud the economy
of the administration OF her Internal al,
fairs and the rate of State taxation com
pare most favorably with any other State
il the Union. These are practical results
to which practical people look and upon
which they base their judgment. 1t is
obvious that charges of misieasance in Of
fee by the agents entrusted to carry ou,
the details Of government should be made
in the cours, whose proper function is to
Weigh the evidence a nd decide such ques-
lions; and not by means Of hsrangue to
farmers who have been induced to come
to town with view of improving upon
agricultural methods.
We thank our valued subscriber for The
kind compliment to the TINES with which
he concludes his article. He thinks that.
like Goldsmith's village parsoo, ''e'en our
failings lean to virtues side"